BASINGSTOKE College of Technology (BCoT) have announced new measures to keep the school up and running during the coronavirus outbreak, including those that can support the community.

Speaking to the Gazette, Principal Anthony Bravo has announced that they will support single parents of their students who are being forced to self-isolate by going to collect groceries for them.

They have also offered to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to keep their canteen open for elderly residents, although are yet to hear back.

The college also announced that their restaurant, hair and beauty facilities have also been temporarily closed.

"It was a very easy decision to make because a lot of our clientele are elderly and we don't think it would be worth it to potentially expose them to [the virus]," Mr Bravo continued.

Further measures announced by the college include:

  • Stopped all staff from going to external meetings
  • Training all staff and students to use online learning
  • Closure of restaurant, hair and beauty departments
  • Amended sick pay policy
  • Staff briefings on Tuesday were conducted virtually
  • Cancelled Tuesday's well-being day, and trained staff to use virtual learning instead
  • Increased cleaning of college
  • Continuing to follow the government's advice

Mr Bravo added: "We have not had any cases of the virus, but we have had a couple of people self-isolating.

"At the moment, the government guidelines are that we stay open.

"We are getting everything ready for going online as much as possible."

He continued that the college are following these principals in everything they do:

  • Understanding
  • Empathy
  • Willingness to do what needs to be done
  • Flexibility
  • Pragmatic